I see you're confused. You seem thinking that I'm talking about bolting a plain old computer motherboard on my bike.
What I'm talking about is a flexible handheld device that can be mounted on the handlebars and carry out all the functions that a normal bike computer can do, plus call up maps on the internet when your lost, attach to a GPS unit keep track of your route, and other nifty stuff like that. When your done with your ride you can log in to bike forums, log your ride on your blog, program a new Ruby or C++ app you thought of on your ride, check your e-mails....
In other words a handheld device that would be a lot easier to handle and actually contributes to the funtion of your bike on say a long bike tour when you might not wish to lug around a lap top that just sits getting jostled in a pannier all day. Not to mention it's not just for bike use but for personal use anywhere.
The fact that you seem not to have the imagination to visualize the value of such a project when it's easier to just buy a cell phone and posted five times in this thread to that effect kinda sounds like trolling to me. I can just as easily say, "Why build a headlight when you can just go buy one off the shelf?". Thing is I understand your need for a better headlight built to your specifications. Sometimes it's not the light itself but the learning experiance and the Joy of having done it. The fact that it actually turned out the way you wanted is the bonus.
You seem not to understand this, and have chosen to knock someone elses project several times with derogatory comments about it being useless when there are commercially availlable products that are nicely packaged. Perhaps someone said the same thing about your headlights? Were they right? Did you have no satisfaction from your lights because the ones off the shelf were so much nicer then your projects, so you decided to pass on the wisdom of your detractors and say "Why bother when you can just buy a cell phone off the shelf?"
Okay, so you don't like the idea for some reason, and think the idea sucks on general principal. Personally, I don't see why you have to say it so often. Especially when other people are trying to offer their positive ideas, and input. Seems trollish to me. Then again, maybe I'm just bad at explaining things. After all I'm breaking new ground. The Beagleboard was not designed for bicycle applications and I'm trying to include it into my love of bike riding. Take a look at this:
Origins of Beagleboard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL_XMieanSc
Beagleboard Description
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEL0sW71PFs
Beagleboard running 3d demos, Angstrom and Ubuntu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuVwh_VrIxk
Beagleboard running Firefox and GIMP on Unbuntu Mojo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL9mUTtaquE
Beagleboard running Angstrom and MPlayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnnW6UAV7us